2018-09-14
The Greens are committed to making a difference in Australia and all around the world – but there is so much more we can all do.
By Vivienne Glance
As part of the Global Greens, the Australian Greens belong to an active and engaged political movement working for progressive change in the world.
So it was a pleasure to read the account of our former Senator, Scott Ludlam, of his travels to many countries in his article Taking the Greens message abroad, which was published in the July edition of Green Magazine – and to share with you now some key global issues the Greens are working to help achieve.
A global charter
The Global Greens are made up of around 90 members, split across four federations:
- African Greens Federation (AGF)
- Federations of Green Parties of the Americas (FPVA)
- Asia Pacific Greens Federation (APGF)
- European Green Party (EGP).
All members work together to uphold and implement the Global Greens Charter. This founding document is in two sections: principles and political action.
You will be familiar with the first section as it reflects our own four pillars, although set out as six separate principles: ecological wisdom, social justice, participatory democracy, nonviolence, sustainability, and respect for diversity. The second section sets out a framework of broad principles on which policies could be based.
For many new and emerging Greens parties, including some of the countries Scott mentioned, the Global Greens Charter provides the foundation on which more complex and localised policies can be built that will define their party, often in the face of strong and sometimes brutal political opposition.
To become a member of the Global Greens, a party must commit to uphold the principles of the charter, along with meeting other criteria in governance and diversity, including gender equity.
The Australian Greens National Council, through APGF Councillor Bob Hale, nominated the Greens Party of the Solomon Islands in their application to join the federation, which was recently accepted by the APGF Membership Committee.
Building gender equity
To achieve membership can be challenging in places where, for example, women have traditionally not been allowed to fully participate in public life. The Global Greens has a Women’s Network (GGWN) dedicated to supporting and advocating for the participation of women in member parties.
In our Asia Pacific region, the International Development Committee (IDC) of the Australian Greens has funded an APGF Women’s Network project, which includes creating a toolkit to assist Greens parties in working towards gender equity. This is focused on increasing women in leadership roles, as candidates, and in party membership, and helping to ensure that these aims are supported in both internal and public policies. Members of the APGFWN Committee, including Rose Read (APGF Councillor), Michelle Sheather (IDC International Development Coordinator) and myself are working to have the toolkit ready by the end of this year.
Additional parts of this IDC/APGFWN gender equity project include capacity building through webinars by women leaders from around the world (you may have noticed the recent promotions for these) and a mentorship program linking Green women leaders worldwide to help others develop their knowledge and skills in politics, campaigns and organising. If you’d like to help empower women in the Asia Pacific region as a mentor, or you are able to present a webinar, please get in touch.
To follow the work of the APGFWN, or to become involved, please like their Facebook page.
From grassroots to global
As Scott pointed out, it is essential that the Australian Greens don’t overlook the hugely important role we play in supporting the Greens movement globally. As a grassroots party, this role is developed and carried out by not only the IDC working with the APGF to administer the Australian Political Parties for Democracy program, but also by the Australian Greens Global Issues Working Group (GIG).
Each state and territory party can elect a delegate to represent them on GIG and help build the movement even more. The role of GIG is guided by their current terms of reference, available on the Greenhouse. In summary, these state GIG’s will help to develop Greens parties as social and activist movements, promote and implement the principles of the Global Greens Charter, and support the development of international policies, through working with National Council and Conference, the IDC, the APGF, and like-minded international groups.
One of the exciting GIG activities is engaging with local groups and communities in Australia who are working for Greens values and principles. GIG’s campaign to support groups such as Free West Papua, which is fighting for the self-determination of West Papua, was highlighted at our May National conference. This was prompted by GIG members in Tasmania. Other GIG members have raised awareness of the lack of democracy in Cambodia (Queensland), the genocide in Sudan and nuclear issues in Japan (Western Australia).
Anti-nuclear ambitions
Another GIG campaign has been to monitor the progress of the ratification of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and to advocate for Australia to become a signatory. We are supporting and promoting the work of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and others, through the Australian Greens Go Global Facebook page and other platforms.
We have the benefit of several experienced Australian Greens members to help and advise us, if needed. Not only Scott Ludlam, an ICAN Ambassador; but also Christine Milne, former federal parliamentary leader and now a Global Greens Ambassador; and former Australian Greens Co-convenors Giz Watson, who is currently a member of IDC, and Penny Allman-Payne, the current Convenor of APGF.
But there is so much more we can all do. Each state and territory party is also encouraged to form their own GIG working group to assist their delegate in decision-making and activism on the ground.
So, if international development and being an active part of the Global Greens movement is something you believe you can commit to, please consider joining (or forming) your own GIG in your state or territory party. And also, maybe standing as a GIG delegate, or co-delegate, at your party’s Annual General Meeting.
Vivienne Glance is the Australian Greens International Secretary, the Global Issues Group Convenor, and an ex-officio member of the IDC. She is contactable via international.secretary@greens.org.au or +61 (0)421 749 853.